Resource Optimization Initiative

The Resource Optimization Initiative (ROI) initially began in July 2018 as an outcome of the Affordability Task Force, championed by the Board of Trustees, to identify how the University could create better financial controls to minimize costs, enhance University services and fulfill strategic initiatives, such as One Penn State 2025. To assist in these efforts, the University enlisted Huron Consulting Group in April 2018 to identify potential opportunities and provide recommendations. 

Following the release of the final Huron report in July 2018, former Penn State President Eric Barron established eleven workstreams to help drive evolution and plan a long-term overview of operations for the coming years. Over several months, each workstream met with Barron and the executive team to review their investigations, preliminary recommendations, and estimated cost- savings. As of 2021, the project has saved Penn State $97.6 million.  

ROI Project Pages

• Physical Asset Optimization 
• Financial Transparency - Strategic Budget Approach Initiative
• Strategic Procurement Transformation (SPT) Project 
• World Campus

ROI Press Releases

• Penn State seeks community input on future commercial partnership program - August 2022

• Penn State reviews plan for University's on-campus hotels - June 29, 2022

• Procurement project is estimated to save Penn State $45M in annual cost-savings - September 29, 2020

• Town Hall looks at how belt-tightening, modernization impacts budget approach - October 14, 2019

• Task force recommends a broad change to Penn State's current budget approach - October 9, 2019

• Consultant to continue the analysis of cost, value, and affordability at Penn State - May 4, 2018